Vande Bharat sleeper train to roll out in January 2026

Indian Railways will begin 2026 with the launch of its first Vande Bharat sleeper train, introducing overnight semi-high-speed travel on long-distance routes. The inaugural service is set to run between Guwahati and Howrah, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced.

The new sleeper service is expected to be flagged off by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the second half of January 2026. The announcement was made during a New Year meeting at Rail Bhawan in New Delhi and later confirmed through an official release by the Ministry of Railways via the Press Information Bureau.

Vaishnaw said that all trials, testing, and certification for the Vande Bharat Sleeper Train have been completed. Calling it a major step forward, he noted that 2026 would see a series of passenger-focused reforms across the railway network.

First service on Guwahati-Howrah route

“The testing and certification of the Vande Bharat Sleeper train have been completed, and its first proposed route is Guwahati–Kolkata. The Prime Minister will flag off the inaugural service in the coming days,” the minister said.

Officials said the service is expected to benefit a wide range of passengers, including business travellers, tourists, and students. Along the way, the train will serve key districts such as Kamrup Metropolitan and Bongaigaon in Assam, and Coochbehar, Jalpaiguri, Maldah, Murshidabad, Purba Bardhaman, Hooghly, and Howrah in West Bengal.

The train will consist of 16 fully air-conditioned coaches: 11 AC three-tier, four AC two-tier, and one first-class AC coach. With a total seating and sleeping capacity of 823 passengers, the expected fares are around ₹2,300 for 3AC, ₹3,000 for 2AC, and ₹3,600 for First AC, including meals.

Designed for overnight journeys, the service will allow passengers to depart in the evening and arrive early the next morning. Catering will feature regional cuisine, with Assamese dishes served on Guwahati-originating services and Bengali food on trains starting from Howrah.

The Vande Bharat Sleeper Train has a design speed of up to 180 kmph and includes upgraded berths for better comfort, automatic doors with vestibules, improved suspension to reduce noise, and the Kavach anti-collision safety system. Additional features include CCTV surveillance, emergency talk-back units, advanced fire detection systems, enhanced sanitation technology, and dedicated facilities for Divyangjan passengers.

The final high-speed trial of the indigenously built train was recently completed on the Kota-Nagda section, where it successfully touched its maximum design speed. According to the railway ministry, two sleeper train sets are already ready, with more planned for long-distance routes ranging from 1,200 to 1,500 kilometres in the coming months.

With this launch, Indian Railways aims to redefine night travel by combining speed, safety, and comfort on one of the country’s busiest long-distance corridors.